Short Answer Questions

1. What is Anna traumatized by when she returns to the cottage in Chapter 36?

2. What is causing the sewers in the camp to back up in Chapter 38?

3. What does Stern's father refuse to do?

4. What does McConnell believe he and Stern are being used as?

5. What is Brandt testing on the three subjects in Chapter 39?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Brandt ask to meet with Schorner in Chapter 31, and how does Schorner react?

2. Describe what happens when the Nazi soldiers break in the door of Anna's cottage.

3. What events lead to Frau Hagan's death in Chapter 29?

4. Who approaches Ariel when he is leaving Brandt's office to prepare for the attack and what does this person tell him?

5. In what way does Stern's plan change in Chapter 33, and why?

6. Why does Anna kill Milkos in Chapter 35?

7. In Chapter 42, how does Schorner deal with Stern and what does he realize about Anna?

8. What does Stern tell Mark about their mission in Chapter 28?

9. How does Stern handle his encounter with Sturm and his men and how does Sturm respond?

10. In Chapter 37 what good news does Schorner tell Rachel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What characteristics of Jonas Stern betray the persona he strives for, and how do they perpetuate it? Provide examples.

Essay Topic 2

Investigate "Black Cross" as historical fiction. How does it adhere to and differ from the typical historical fiction novel? What changes could be made to mark it more clearly as historical fiction? What changes could be made to prevent critics from classifying the novel as historical fiction?

Essay Topic 3

How are the different symbols (Victoria Cross, Sarin Gas, etc.) used throughout the novel to represent abstract concepts? Detail and explain how the symbols are used to describe certain abstract concepts and which concepts they describe.